For a hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan from Mexico City, five tours are listed on WizardTrip: four flights and one walking tour. Together they have more than 35,000 reviews, with ratings of 4.8 to 4.9 out of 5 (as of 18 October 2026).
This article compares departures, meals, site admission and weight limits. It settles between a full flight package, a flight alone and the pyramids on foot, without a balloon.
Hot air balloon at Teotihuacan: what to know before booking
All four flights take off from the Teotihuacan valley, and pickup in Mexico City starts as early as 4:00 am. The flight lasts 30 to 50 minutes according to the programs. The wind decides the route: no listing guarantees a flight over the pyramids.
The most reviewed flight: cave, artisans and pyramids
This tour with transport and breakfast has 8,112 reviews and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. The shuttle picks you up at your hotel between 4:20 and 5:10 am, in Roma, Reforma, Polanco or the Historic Center. On arrival, each passenger is weighed. Takeoff is planned around 6:50 am, for 30 to 40 minutes of flight. The description of the options says 45 minutes.
After the toast, a Mexican breakfast is served around 8:50 am in a natural cave. Next come an artisans’ cooperative, with explanations about obsidian and a liqueur tasting, then 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours at the site. The return to the hotel is estimated between 1 and 2 pm. Admission is not included, and a certified guide costs 300 MXN extra.
Reviews praise the flight, less so the rest. Travelers in September and October 2026 find the breakfast average, the shop stop avoidable and the time at the site closer to an hour. Heather, in October 2026, writes: “it is a very early wake-up but it is a full day of interesting activities”. A September 2026 review specifies that the cave is not La Gruta.
Group flight of 15 people, with a French-speaking guide
This tour limits the group to 15 people and lists French, English and Spanish among the guide’s languages. It has 7,582 reviews and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. Pickup, between 4:20 and 4:50 am, covers Reforma, Condesa, Roma, Polanco and the Historic Center. Elsewhere, fees may apply.
Takeoff is announced for 6:10 am, for 30 to 50 minutes of flight, then a toast and certificate around 7:30 am. Breakfast follows at La Cueva, before a workshop on obsidian and maguey with tasting. Free time at the site is 1 hour 30 minutes, with the listing announcing up to 2 hours elsewhere. A 500 MXN surcharge applies from 100 to 120 kg, and 1,000 MXN from 120 to 140 kg.
The two lowest reviews date from May 2026. One (4 out of 5) finds the breakfast poor. The other (2 out of 5) recounts a mix-up over the pickup location after a hotel change. Confirm your pickup time the day before, as the listing advises, and check your address.
Flight from the We Fly center, with or without transport
The We Fly flight departs from the operator’s welcome center, 5 minutes from the archaeological zone. It has 4,819 reviews and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. Four options exist: all-inclusive, flight without transport or breakfast, flight and breakfast without transport, and an express return to Mexico City without the pyramids.
In the full option, the shuttle is shared. It picks up passengers within 3 km of the Angel of Independence, from 4:00 to 4:50 am. Breakfast is at La Cueva, which the listing also calls La Gruta. Next come a 60-minute craft workshop, with tequila, mezcal and pulque tastings. The guided visit lasts 90 minutes, in Spanish or English, admission included.
The flight lasts 30 to 45 minutes, and the inclusions list mentions up to 60 minutes. The minimum age is 4 and the maximum weight 99 kg, with a penalty above. Two January 2026 reviews (4 and 3 out of 5) cite a long weather wait and a landing in bushes.
Flight with a mariachi breakfast, from Volare
The Volare flight departs from Globopuerto Volare, in Teotihuacan. It has 4,403 reviews and a rating of 4.8 out of 5. Three options exist. With transport from Mexico City: about 6 hours, or about 9 hours with 3 hours at the site. Without transport: about 3 hours. The shuttle is shared and serves only hotels in tourist areas, not Airbnbs.
After a flight of 30 to 45 minutes, a Mexican buffet breakfast is served with mariachi music. Site admission is not included. Children under 5 do not fly. An October 2026 review (4 out of 5) reports a man presenting himself as a free guide at the drop-off for the pyramids.
The pyramids on foot, without a balloon
The walking tour of the pyramids has 10,093 reviews and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. It lasts 5 hours 30 minutes, including 3 hours in the archaeological zone, admission included, with the Avenue of the Dead and the three main pyramids. The listing gives five meeting points. Departures run from 7:35 to 8:15 am in the morning and from 12:25 to 1 pm in the afternoon. Transport from Mexico City, water, coffee and a cereal bar are included.
The guide speaks English and Spanish. The group has 50 people at most, and a private option includes hotel pickup. The listing’s program mentions no commercial stop. Reviews differ. A September 2026 traveler appreciates the commitment to avoiding tourist traps. Another (3 out of 5) describes a stop around 9 am with obsidian sales and a tasting.
Mark, in October 2026 (4 out of 5), notes “a lot of walking, on the order of 2+ miles, with many steep, ancient steps”.
The five tours compared
| Flight with cave breakfast | Small-group flight | We Fly flight | Volare flight with mariachi | Pyramids on foot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 to 8 hours depending on the option | 4 to 7 hours | 3 to 9 hours | 3 to 9 hours | 5 hours 30 minutes |
| Pickup | Hotel, 4:20 to 5:10 am | Hotel, 4:20 to 4:50 am | Hotel, 4:00 to 4:50 am | Hotel in tourist areas, from 4:00 am | Meeting points, from 7:35 am |
| Flight | 30 to 40 min | 30 to 50 min | 30 to 45 min | 30 to 45 min | None |
| Breakfast | In a natural cave | At La Cueva, optional | At La Cueva, depending on the option | Buffet with mariachi | Coffee and cereal bar |
| Craft stop | Yes, full option | Yes, full option | Yes, full option | No | Not described in the listing |
| Pyramids and admission | 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, admission not included | 1 hour 30 minutes, admission not included | 90 min guided, admission included (full option) | Option of about 3 hours, admission not included | 3 hours with guide, admission included |
| Maximum group | 50 people | 15 people | 100 people | 100 people | 50 people |
| Guide languages | English, Spanish | English, French, Spanish | English, Spanish | English, Spanish | English, Spanish |
| Cancellation | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before | Full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Price from | 2,699 MXN | 2,850 MXN | 2,600 MXN | 2,610 MXN | US$49 |
Does the balloon fly over the pyramids?
Not for certain. Only the first tour presented above gives a figure: a flyover on 90% of flights. In the reviews, fog hid the pyramids from one traveler in October 2026, and another, in September 2026, did not fly over the site. Others say they passed right above.
Children, pregnancy, wheelchairs: what do the listings say?
The minimum age is 4 at We Fly, and children under 5 do not fly with Volare. The other two flight listings give none. Pregnant women are excluded or discouraged everywhere. Only the Volare listing presents the activity as wheelchair accessible, to be confirmed with the provider. A September 2026 review notes that you have to climb into the basket. On foot, the visit can be difficult for older people, the listing warns.
What happens in bad weather?
All five listings say the tour may be canceled if the weather requires it. The We Fly and Volare tours are also canceled for lack of participants. Only cancellation by you is detailed: a full refund if it occurs at least 24 hours before departure.
Which one to choose?
- You want only the flight, with your own transport: Volare’s option without transport, about 3 hours.
- You want a French-speaking guide: the tour limited to 15 people.
- You want the most reviewed option, with cave, artisans and pyramids: the tour with 8,112 reviews.
- You want site admission and a guide included with a flight: We Fly’s all-inclusive option.
- You prefer the pyramids without a balloon: the walking tour, with departures from 7:35 am.
For the rest of your stay, the city’s tours, meals and day trips are gathered on the Things to do in Mexico City page. The country’s other destinations are under Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacan?
The flight lasts 30 to 50 minutes depending on the tour, not counting weather delays. With transport from Mexico City, breakfast and the pyramids, the listings advertise 2 to 9 hours depending on the option.
What time do you leave Mexico City to see Teotihuacan by balloon?
Hotel pickup begins between 4:00 and 5:10 am depending on the tour, and the exact time is confirmed the day before. The programs that specify it announce takeoff at 6:10 or around 6:50 am.
Is admission to the Teotihuacan archaeological zone included?
In most flight options, no: one listing estimates it at about US$6, another at 210 MXN in cash. It is included in We Fly’s all-inclusive option and in the 5 hour 30 minute walking tour.
Does the balloon always fly over the Teotihuacan pyramids?
No. The wind decides the route and no listing guarantees a flyover. One states 90% of flights, and an October 2026 review reports that fog hid the pyramids.
Can you see the Teotihuacan pyramids without a balloon ride?
Yes, with a 5 hour 30 minute walking tour from Mexico City. It includes 3 hours in the archaeological zone, admission, round-trip transport and a guide in English or Spanish. Water, coffee and a cereal bar are included.
What is the maximum weight for a hot air balloon flight at Teotihuacan?
It depends on the tour. Two listings charge a surcharge from 100 kg. Another sets a maximum of 99 kg with a penalty above, and the last states a limit of 120 kg.
Activities mentioned in this guide
Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan with Breakfast and Transport from Mexico City4.9(8,112 reviews)From €132From€132View activity
Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Teotihuacan Pyramids with Cave Breakfast & CDMX Pickup4.9(7,582 reviews)From €140From€140View activity
Hot Air Balloon Flight + Breakfast at La Gruta + Pick Up in CDMX or We Fly4.9(4,819 reviews)From €128From€128View activity
Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Flight from Mexico City4.8(4,403 reviews)From €128From€128View activity
Teotihuacan Pyramids: Morning or Afternoon Tour - Avoid the Crowds4.9(10,093 reviews)From €54From€54View activity
All activities in Mexico City, with their prices and reviews: Things to do in Mexico City
